Local Folks

Local Folks: Anna Valent

Local Folks: Anna Valent

Helping her community and being of service is at Anna Valent’s core. She knew from a young age that being involved in something bigger than herself was what she was meant to do – and she does just that. Not only professionally as the incoming executive director of Dreams Come True, but through her volunteer […]

Local Folks: Nick Patterson

Local Folks: Nick Patterson

Nick Patterson was just eight years old when he made the big move from Scotland to Jacksonville with his mother and twin brother. He fell in love with Jacksonville and, despite a short stint away for college, has no intention of ever leaving again. “As I started getting older and deciding whether I wanted to […]

Local Folks: Alise Morales

Local Folks: Alise Morales

Jacksonville is a proud military town, and it’s proud of the military families that call it home, even if just for a short while. Although Alise Morales may not be a local from Jacksonville, she’s a local “for now” and enjoying the five years she’s spent here so far. Her husband, Joe, is active-duty U.S. […]

Local Folks: Bryan Arnold

Local Folks: Bryan Arnold

Bryan Arnold’s family tree has wide roots in Jacksonville, specifically the Ortega area. He is a Jacksonville native, and his father practiced law in the city for 54 years. “All my dad’s family grew up here,” he said. “If you run across any Arnold, I’m probably related to them.” A self-proclaimed “simple guy,” Arnold has […]

Local Folks: Josh Gellers

Local Folks: Josh Gellers

While Josh Gellers might claim his move to Jacksonville was just luck and timing, it took two years of applying to more than 78 jobs to finally beat out nearly 150 applicants for a job as an assistant professor in the political science department at the University of North Florida (UNF). “I’m very grateful, Gellers […]

Local Folks: Dr. Azi Yavari

Local Folks: Dr. Azi Yavari

Azi Yavari is the doctor behind the healthy teeth and happy smiles at Hendricks Dental Studio, a practice she bought from a retiring dentist in 2016. “I love my job!” she said, and she’s been at it for nearly 20 years. An immigrant from Iran, Yavari came to Jacksonville at age eight and stayed until […]

Local Folks: Monique Worthen

Local Folks: Monique Worthen

Jacksonville native Monique Worthen has been an educator for 19 years and has a passion for helping others. For the past seven years, she has been the principal at Venetia Elementary School, and in that role, she serves as the face of the school. Recently, her passion for the position landed her as Principal of […]

Local Folks: Laura Phillips Edgecombe

Local Folks: Laura Phillips Edgecombe

October 13 is a special day for Laura Phillips Edgecombe. It’s the day that, 14 years ago, she and her husband went on their first date. It’s also the day that, 11 years ago, they wed in Fletcher Park. Edgecombe is a third-generation Jaxson who grew up in Mandarin, husband Adam, a first-generation from the […]

Page 1 of 8123Next ›Last »